Entering La Conseillante
Mini-vertical with Marielle Cazaux in October 2018
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LA CONSEILLANTE 2023 (barrel sample) 97-98p
I tasted it twice - last time in September 2024. Consistent notes. 88% Merlot + 12% Cabernet Franc. 14% alcohol. It is very aromatic on the nose, with violets and iris, blueberries and blackberries, and delicate and distinguished on the palate, with terrific elegance and finesse, sophisticated touch, and richness. Liquid cashmere. Long and lingering aftertaste. It's a fascinating effort and a quality-wise close to the 2022 vintage.
LA CONSEILLANTE 2022 (barrel sample) 98p
Tasted in April 2023. 85% Merlot + 15% Cabernet Franc. 14% alcohol. Very aromatic, lively, violets and iris, blueberries and blackberries, stylish with great elegance and finesse, sophisticated and rich, many layers. Delicate aftertaste. Outstanding effort.
LA CONSEILLANTE 2021 (barrel sample) 95p
Tasted in April 2022. 85% Merlot + 15% Cabernet Franc. 13.3% alcohol. Fresh, lively, violets and iris, raspberries, stylish elegance and finesse, sophisticated touch. Superb effort in this challenging vintage.
LA CONSEILLANTE 2020 (barrel sample) 98+p
Tasted in May 2021. 87% Merlot + 13% Cabernet Franc. 14% alcohol. Dense nose of winter black truffle and violets. I discovered the palate had a more tannic structure than usual, but finesse and elegance were still there with great complexity and sophisticated touch. Excellent precision and tremendous length. Utterly impressive stuff from the winemaker, Marielle Cazaux. Wow!
LA CONSEILLANTE 2019 (barrel sample) 98+p
Tasted in June 2020. 84% Merlot + 16% Cabernet Franc, 14.5% alcohol. Marielle Cazaux, the winemaker, used a " debourbage " technique during maceration, separating clear juice and solids so that only clear juice returns to the vat/barrel. Freshness, complexity, sophisticated touch, and richness. Very blueberry and black cherry. Velvety fruit and tannin. Excellent structure, elegance, and impressive length. There is more precision and more typicity in 2019 than in 2018. Stunning effort.
LA CONSEILLANTE 2018 98+p
I tasted it five times, the last time in September 2024. Consistent notes. 80% Merlot + 20% Cabernet Franc. 14% alcohol. It is a sensual and captivating wine with aromatic violets and cherries, lots of elegance and finesse. It is an utterly complex and expressive wine, charismatic and with an excellent finish. Wow!
LA CONSEILLANTE 2017 94p
Tasted four times - last time in November 2021. Not consistent notes. It was tricky to taste barrel samples in April 2018 with the noise around, and it didn't help by far too many people gathering in LC's cellar on the first day of primeur tasting. Retasted in September and October 2018, it showed a lot of elegance and finesse, excellent length, and complexity. Great Pomerol style here.
LA CONSEILLANTE 2016 97p
Tasted three times - last time in November 2021. Consistent notes. Marielle Cazaux, a winemaker here since the summer of 2015, made, in my opinion, better wine in 2016 than in 2015. There is great elegance and finesse here, silky fruit and tannin, velvety texture, very precise and focused.
LA CONSEILLANTE 2015 95p
Tasted three times - last time in November 2021. Not consistent notes. It was not quite as exciting as expected while tasted at the property in April 2016. The barrel sample lacked freshness and had a touch of overripe flavors. It was much, much more convincing in October 2018. Sweet, silky texture, 14.5% alcohol, but you couldn't feel it, a lot of elegance and finesse. Great complexity and a catchy style. Even better in November 2021, with a lot of grace and finesse, great complexity, and a catchy style.
LA CONSEILLANTE 2014 94p
Tasted three times - last time in November 2021. Consistent notes. Has more Cabernet Franc in the blend (22%) than other vintages (15-18%). It is a very sophisticated and refined, exquisite wine with a lot of finesse and style.
LA CONSEILLANTE 2013 (barrel sample) 94p
Tasted twice during March/April 2014. Consistent notes. Violets, finesse, and elegance, very complex and refined. Excellent wine work.
LA CONSEILLANTE 2012 (barrel sample) 93p?
Tasted in April 2013. Sophisticated and refined with a high intensity of black cherries, lush and exquisite, velvety texture, excellent balance, and long, smooth aftertaste. Great effort for the vintage. In March 2014, it tasted weak, less intense, less structured, and tired, probably because the wine was transferred to vats before bottling.
LA CONSEILLANTE 2011 93p
I tasted this wine five times, the last time in September 2019. Consistent notes. It has a long, fruity finish, with very aromatic fruit on the nose, silkiness on the palate, and great complexity and structure.
LA CONSEILLANTE 2010 95-96p
Tasted three times - last time in March 2014. Consistent notes. Chocolate, black cherries, violets, and outstanding balance. Sophisticated and refined on the palate with a long finish. It is a stunning wine with great style.
LA CONSEILLANTE 2009 94p
Tasted four times - last time in November 2021. Consistent notes. 39.5 hl/ha. Lighter than in 2010 but almost as impressive. Sophisticated touch and classy elegance. Excellent wine.
LA CONSEILLANTE 2008 (barrel sample) 93p
I tasted this wine in March 2009. It appeared velvety and aromatic, with the pure elegance and sophisticated touch typical for this property. It had a long and graceful finish. This was entertaining stuff.
LA CONSEILLANTE 2006 91p
Tasted in March 2014. It quite evolved, with slightly jammy flavors and a light texture. Merlot wasn't a revelation in this vintage, and it's obvious to taste. This wine is speeding up in maturity very fast. Nice and charming.
LA CONSEILLANTE 2005 96p
Tasted five times - last time in November 2021. Consistent notes. Yield - 38 hl/ha. Great stuff coming from this outstanding vintage. Truffles, seductive nose, elegant and incredibly classy wine, sophisticated, great structure, and long aftertaste. It's a fantastic wine, and I wonder if 2010 will turn out to be better.
LA CONSEILLANTE 2001 93p
Tasted four times - last time in April 2011. Consistent notes. Magnum. Dark red, truffles, aromatic, subtle, excellent structure, well-balanced, much style, and grace. A textbook Pomerol.
LA CONSEILLANTE 2000 95p
Tasted in April 2011. Big yield (49 hl/ha). Truffles again, very distinguished and stylish wine, elegant and seductive. Wonderful stuff.
LA CONSEILLANTE 1998 93p
Tasted in November 2021 from magnum. It revealed some green notes on the nose, but I believe they belonged to Cabernet Franc and weren't unripe flavors. The fruit tasted slightly warm, but this wine displayed fine fruit intensity, splendid structure, and a meaty finish.
LA CONSEILLANTE 1990 94p
It was tasted in April 2011 from a magnum. The yield was 53 hl/ha. It is keeping up very well. There are truffles again, stunning elegance and finesse, high intensity, and structure. This is an extraordinary wine.
LA CONSEILLANTE 1971 90p
Tasted in October 2019. Relatively light, aromatic, soft texture, tasty, supple, and elegant fruit. It's still quite enjoyable wine, but it's fading away.
LA CONSEILLANTE 1970 94p
Tasted in November 2019. A scent of truffles on the nose, well-balanced, finesse, and elegance, well-defined and with a lingering finish. Lovely wine.
LA CONSEILLANTE 1945 96p
Tasted in April 2011. Negociant bottling and an impressive reminder from the past. It showed a remarkable similarity in style in recent vintages - sublime, sophisticated, great finesse, and elegance. Just stunning.